Nelson supports cut in Senate spending

The US Senate overwhelming passed a “Sense of the Senate” amendment that was authored by Senator Ben Nelson to cut the Senate budget by five-percent for the rest of the year. Senator Nelson is pleased that goal is accomplished.

“When I’m home in Nebraska every weekend people often come up to me in the grocery store or the hardware store and elsewhere and tell me they are concerned about the national debt and deficit. They want Washington to cut spending and bring the cloud of debt that hangs over our economic future. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Legislative Branch Sub-Committee, I have been pursuing a five-percent cut in this year’s budget for Congress and agencies, offices and buildings on the Hill, on Capitol Hill.”

Senator Nelson says this shows fiscal responsibility and that the “buck shrinks here’.

“So I was pleased to see the amendment to cut Senate spending by five percent receive such a strong bi-partisan support with a vote of 98 to 1. The message the Senate sends is clear. Fiscal responsibility starts at home and the Senate should cut its own budget by 5%.”

Senator Nelson says the Senate will also soon take up a continuing resolution to fund the government for another three weeks. The House passed their version earlier this week. Because there could be changes before the Senate vote, Nelson says he will reserve judgment for now until he knows what it contains.

“But, we are continuing to kick the can down the road in an irresponsible way because Washington refuses to set aside partisan politics. All it takes is will and discipline to pass a budget. Nebraskans don’t want to see more posturing for the cameras. They want to see Washington cut spending and I agree with them.”

The House version blends six-billion dollars in budget cuts but includes money to keep the government running for yet another three weeks.